The Australian
Centurion Rules of Incorporation

Like many small clubs in Australia, the Australian Centurions were
concerned that we leave ourselves open to litigation when we run 24
hour events. If someone is injured and decides to sue for negligence, we
as members of the club could be liable. By registering the Australian Centurions
as an Incorporated Association in 2001, we came under Victorian Government
legislation and are now afforded protection as individuals against such legal
redress.

When Brian Parkinson rewrote our constitution in the early 1990s, he advised
us that we should look at this change but it took us a few years to action!
Now we, like nearly all sporting clubs, have availed ourselves of the peace
of mind offered via this legislation.

To satisfy Incorporation requirements, our constitution had to be changed as follows

Membership must be more formalised in that
prospective new members must apply in writing. This is no big deal. We still
restrict membership to those who have qualified. We just have to go through
a more formal process to admit them to the club.

The secretary must maintain a register of
members

The constitution must contain a section on
discipline, suspension and expulsion of members.

The consitution must be amended to add a section
on disputes and mediation

The Annual General Meeting must be more formalised
with notification at least 21 days in advance

All Incorporated Assocations must have a common
seal and must put their Incorporation Number on all formal correspondence
and newsletters and such like.

The other main change was that an audited copy of our annual financial
statements must be sent to the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs
and we must inform them of Executive changes within the Association.

A copy of our Rules of Incorporation and Statement of Purposes are presented here in a spirit of openness.